Comfort is a top priority for new car buyers, especially in Canada's extreme driving conditions. Automakers have introduced various car cabin comfort features, from power-adjustable seats to automatic climate control, to make daily commuting more bearable. While most drivers know about the benefits of heated seats on a frosty winter morning, ventilated or cooled seats are gaining popularity for hot summer days.
Ventilated seats use a fan to circulate air, creating a cooling sensation by drawing hot air away or pushing air toward the driver or passenger through the perforations in the seat. On the other hand, cooled seats, which are less popular and more expensive, send chilled air. The best part is that you don't have to break the bank to enjoy this luxury. If you're in the market for a new vehicle and comfort is a top priority, we've got you covered.
Here are five affordable new vehicles equipped with ventilated seats in various segments that will help keep you cool on the hottest driving days this summer, all at prices that won't strain your budget.
Hatchback: 2025 Kia Soul
For not much money, the Soul has always been considered a "cool" choice for a small car. The front-wheel drive (FWD) five-passenger hatchback's boxy design delivers a spacious interior that makes the Soul one of the roomiest vehicles in its class, ensuring a comfortable ride for all passengers. Kia also equips the Soul with some of its latest safety, infotainment, and comfort features. For ultimate comfort, the topline $29,795* GT-Line Limited adds air-cooled leather front seats that are also heated and power-adjustable.
But that's not all of the Kia's creature comforts. The Soul GT-Line Limited's steering wheel and rear seats are also heated. All Soul trims use a 147-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission. However, the GT-Line Limited also comes with many of Kia's advanced driving assistance technologies, like dynamic cruise control, advanced forward collision avoidance assist with junction turning function, and Highway Drive Assist.
Sedan: 2024 Volkswagen Jetta
The compact Jetta has always been Volkswagen's take on the affordable German sedan. So it comes as no surprise that of the three non-GLI Jetta trims, the top $26,595 Highline comes standard with ventilated front seats and many other premium features found in much more expensive German sedans than the five-passenger sedan's starting price. A heated steering wheel and heated rear seats are also included, along with a panoramic sunroof, VW's Digital Cockpit Pro 10.25-inch configurable instrument cluster, a premium sound system (with six speakers plus a subwoofer), and ambient cabin lighting that can be customized with up to 10 colours.
Like all current Jettas, the Highline offers generous room for front and rear passengers. The 510-litre trunk, a standout feature in this class, surpasses many midsize sedans. Plus, the new 158-hp 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic transmission deliver peppy yet efficient performance to the front wheels.
SUV: 2024 Kia Seltos
If you need a small utilitarian vehicle with traction at all four wheels and air-cooled front seats, the all-wheel drive (AWD) Seltos EX Premium, priced at $33,645, is a great choice. There's faux leather seating for five, the front seats are power-adjustable, heated, and cooled, and the rear seats are also heated. In addition to its premium seating, the Seltos is a very comfortable vehicle. Its roomy cabin provides ample space for all passengers, and it has a new instrument panel with a 10.25-inch digital gauge touchscreen and a 10.25-inch screen threaded under a single glass panel.
Like its Soul sibling, the Seltos EX Premium has a 2.0L four-cylinder engine delivering 147 hp, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). For more convenience, the EX Premium version can be locked or started remotely using the Kia Connect app on your smartphone, allowing you to control various vehicle functions from a distance and even share a virtual key.
Pickup Truck: 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz
You may already know the Santa Cruz as a pickup truck with a powerful turbocharged engine and an AWD system that isn't afraid of a snowy winter day or a dusty summer cabin trail. The Hyundai truck's compact size also makes maneuverability in urban areas easier. But did you also know that the Santa Cruz can be outfitted with comfort features usually found on much more expensive trucks, including ventilated front seats?
The top-of-line $40,799 Santa Cruz Ultimate trim offers a host of features designed to pamper you, including heated and ventilated front and heated rear leather seats, a sunroof, a 10.25-inch full digital display instrument cluster, and standard Surround View Monitor and Blind View Monitor. But comfort isn't the only priority: all Santa Cruz trims offer interior controls that are easy to use and intuitive, ensuring you feel confident and in control. There's plenty of space for five passengers, with rear legroom comparable to the Ford Maverick and the larger Honda Ridgeline.
Coupe/Convertible: 2024 Ford Mustang
Ford's Mustang is rejuvenated for 2024 with contemporary technology and safety features. Yet, it proudly retains all of the original 1964 pony car's iconic characteristics, like rear-wheel drive, powerful engines, and the timeless classic styling that has been a hallmark of the Mustang brand. However, despite its retro vibe, the Ford 2+2 coupe and convertible are anything but antiquated rides.
To keep you cool on hot summer drives, the Mustang EcoBoost in Premium trim (available in both the $43,330 Fastback and $48,630 Convertible) get heated and cooled front seats. For 2024, a new pair of large, high-resolution screens has been introduced. The 13.2-inch infotainment screen, with its tablet-like gestures, is user-friendly and packed with features. In front of the driver, a 12.4-inch display offers easy reconfigurability.
In addition to all these creature comforts, the Mustang EcoBoost packs a punch. Its turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine delivers an impressive 315 hp to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission — more than enough to enjoy the quietest and twistiest public roads.
*Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices in Canadian dollars as of July 1, 2024.
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